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Topic: Radio

in Forum: C4 General Discussion


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Radio (1/9)
 7/25/16 7:16am
legsdiamond
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St. Louis, MO - USA

Vette(s):
Red 1986 Corvette convertible


Joined: 6/28/2016
Posts: 25

Hi All,

I would like to know what would be the best type of radio( AM/FM Bluetooth) that I could buy for my 1986 Chevy Corvette convertible. Something that I would not have to alter the wiring or dash to much. 

Thanks,

Darrell


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Re: Radio (2/9)
 7/27/16 11:47am
don953
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Port Richey, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1987 Convertible. Bright Red/Red Interior. Stock/Original.


Joined: 3/21/2015
Posts: 3

I have an 87 convertable.  I bought an mp3 player with a usb port, and an adapter kit.  No need to change any wiring as the kit has adapters. The kit also comes with dress-up plates to cover the large hole in the dash.  Just a word of advice, though.  Keep the old radio if it is original.  If you ever sell the car, the new buyer may want it.

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Re: Radio (3/9)
 7/27/16 3:34pm
legsdiamond
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St. Louis, MO - USA

Vette(s):
Red 1986 Corvette convertible


Joined: 6/28/2016
Posts: 25

What type of mp3 player is it you have? Did you get it from Ebay? Where can I find setup like yours?

Thanks


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Re: Radio (4/9)
 7/27/16 4:02pm
chevykid
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Ephrata, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1995 Std Coupe Dark Purple Metallic Auto Trans Z07 Suspension Just under 23K miles (7.7.13)


Joined: 7/7/2013
Posts: 49

If what you are interested in doing is to play music from one of your devices, I would recommend looking in to one of the many available transmitters that plug in to the ear-phone jack of the device and transmit on FM to your existing radio.  It would save you the time and effort of replace a working, original equipment radio, and you won't have disturbed thirty-year-old plastic (?) panels that may or may not be available today.  
Re: Radio (5/9)
 7/27/16 4:12pm
don953
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Port Richey, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1987 Convertible. Bright Red/Red Interior. Stock/Original.


Joined: 3/21/2015
Posts: 3

I don't know anything about earphone jacks.  My 87 originally had a cassette player and AM/FM radio.  Any good MP3 player type car stereo will work.  I just recommend the usb port so you don't have to have discs or anything.  Just plug in a usb thumb drive loaded with your music.  Or get a stereo with memory.  Anything that looks good for you.  The adapter kits are available at any auto parts store or even Walmart, and are pretty much universal with most after market stereos.

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Re: Radio (6/9)
 8/7/16 6:09pm
legsdiamond
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St. Louis, MO - USA

Vette(s):
Red 1986 Corvette convertible


Joined: 6/28/2016
Posts: 25

I have a delco/bose system in my car. I just want something that sound just as good as this system. Also I can make phone calls through system. Thanks

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Re: Radio (7/9)
 8/10/16 12:29pm
Kettsvette
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Scottsdale, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1988 Dark Red Metallic Convertible with sports seats, Delco/Bose radio system, Z52 suspension


Joined: 7/8/2014
Posts: 31

I have an '88 with the Bose Radio with AM/FM Cassette Player.  I installed an inexpensive cassette adapter that can play CD's from a CD Player but I also hooked it up to a Bluetooth receiver/transmitter device.  (The bluetooth device is powered from the cigarette lighter receptical.)  That way I can play songs from my bluetooth Apple device and use the speaker system for making and receiveing calls from my bluetooth phone.  It also interups the music when a call comes in so you can answer the call with one touch.  Total cost was about $35 and I didn't have to modify anything.  The only suggestion I have is to purchase a tape cleaning device (a couple of dollars on eBay) to clean the heads of the cassette player sensor so that the sound is not distorted.  I will send pictures of the installation later today but this is the easiest and fastest way to get up-to-date technology for a small cost without tearing the center console apart and messing with the wiring.

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Re: Radio (8/9)
 8/10/16 5:39pm
Kettsvette
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Scottsdale, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1988 Dark Red Metallic Convertible with sports seats, Delco/Bose radio system, Z52 suspension


Joined: 7/8/2014
Posts: 31

I have attached a picture of my '88 Convertible that uses a Monster Cassette Adapter and a KINIVQ Bluetooth Adapter that allows me to use the Bose speaker system to listen to music from my bluetooth devices (iPod, cellphone, etc.) and to answer and make phone calls.  Once the KINIVQ adapter is paired with the bluetooth device, and the cassette adapter is fully inserted into the cassette player, all the functions of the bluetooth devices are available using fewer resources.  The total cost of the devices was about $35 but other similar devices may vary in price.  Since both the Monster adaper and the KINIVQ adaoter use male input/output wires, I used a female-to-female connector to marry up the two input/output leads.  The power lead for the KINIVQ device also has a USB port so you can charge your phone while using the new system.  I also suggest that you use a cassette tape head cleaner to clean the heads of the cassette player if it has not been used much in the recent past.  This will result in better sound quality.
 
As part of my project for the use of bluetooth devices and as seen on the attached picture, I hardwired an additional aux power socket (located to the right of the radio) by combining the hot wire from the existing cigarette lighter wiring behind the center panel beze to the hot wire from the new aux port.  I then bought a $15 USB (1)/Aux Power (3) device and used the power from the new aux power recepticle to power this new device.  This allows for using the aux power system for cellphones, GPS systems, and other devices that are capable ofusing 12 volt systems with an appropriate electrical adapter.  This arrangment also allows for keeping the original cup holder door closed to minimize clutter.
 
The picture shows the Monster cassette adapter in the cassette opening and the KINIVQ bluetooth head located on the upper right side of the radio using velcro.  The new USB aux power recepticle is between the passenger seat and the console.  Since the wires from the cassette adapter and the KINIVQ device are long, I hid the connector and the remaining wire in the glove box.  The system is simple and easy to install and use with mostly hands-free use of the phone.  If you have questions, please let me know.
 


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Re: Radio (9/9)
 8/17/16 1:29pm
Kettsvette
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Scottsdale, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1988 Dark Red Metallic Convertible with sports seats, Delco/Bose radio system, Z52 suspension


Joined: 7/8/2014
Posts: 31

A couple of items:
 
The Bluetooth device noted above is a KINIVO product.
 
Also, instead of using a cassette adapter plus a bluetooth device as noted above, ION makes a bluethooth cassette adapter all in one device including a mic.  It comes with the USB cord to charge the device prior to use but it is supposed to last several hours once it is charged (it has an on/off switch when not in use to save the battery). My wife uses this device on her 2003 Regal and it works pretty good.


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